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Dustin Lance Black Calls 'Ender's Game' Boycott 'Waste' of Energy

"The homophobic novelist who wrote the book hasn't been involved in decades," the Oscar winner writes on his Facebook page.

Summit's Ender's Game has found a powerful ally in the LGBT community. Dustin Lance Black is asking LGBT activists calling for a boycott of the movie to put their efforts elsewhere.

"There's so much good to be done right now," Black wrote on his Facebook page Saturday. "Boycotting a movie made by 99% lgbt equality folks in an lgbt equality industry is a waste of our collective energy. Making one phone call to a relative in the south who isn't quite there yet would be 1000 times more effective."

The sci-fi film has come under fire because of the anti-gay views of Ender's Game author Orson Scott Card, who has a history of opposing same-sex marriage and gay rights.

The group Geek Out is calling for a boycott of the film because of Card's views.

"Do not buy a ticket at the theater, do not purchase the DVD, do not watch it on-demand. Ignore all merchandise and toys. However much you may have admired his books, keep your money out of Orson Scott Card's pockets," the organization writes on its "Skip Ender's Game" website.

On Facebook, Black added to his original post, writing in the comments: "The homophobic novelist who wrote the book hasn't been involved in decades. Misguided boycott."

Black, an active LGBT activist, won an Oscar for his screenplay of 2008's Milk and penned the play 8, which is about the trial that overturned California's Proposition 8.

Summit has distanced itself from Card, and parent company Lionsgate said Friday it plans to hold a screening of Ender's Game benefiting the LGBT community.

In a statement, Lionsgate called itself "proud longtime supporters of the LGBT community" and said it does "not agree with the personal views of Orson Scott Card and those of the National Organization for Marriage" [the anti-same-sex marriage organization associated with Card].

On July 8, Card attempted to head off criticism of his views, issuing a statement to Entertainment Weekly saying the book was unrelated to his views. He asked for "tolerance" from supporters of same-sex marriage because "with the recent Supreme Court ruling, the gay marriage issue becomes moot."

He added, "It will be interesting to see whether the victorious proponents of gay marriage will show tolerance toward those who disagreed with them when the issue was still in dispute."

Card's views previously stirred up controversy in February when he signed on to write a Superman comic for DC. He later dropped out after an outcry over his positions.

Ender's Game, directed by Gavin Hood, hits theaters Nov. 1. The studio plans to show new footage from the film at San Diego Comic-Con, with castmembers Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld and Abigail Breslin slated to attend.